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WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence abruptly cancelled a trip to New Hampshire on Tuesday for reasons that were not immediately clear.

"Something came up that required the @VP to remain in Washington, DC. It’s no cause for alarm," spokeswoman Alyssa Farah tweeted around noon. "He looks forward to rescheduling the trip to New Hampshire very soon."

Pence's top aide, Marc Short, told reporters that the reason for the cancellation would become known “in a few weeks."

Pence had been scheduled to meet with former patients at a drug addiction treatment center and comment on the opioid crisis.

Reporters waiting for his arrival in New Hampshire tweeted around 11:30 a.m. that Randy Gentry, a representative from Pence's office, announced the event was canceled.

"There's been an emergency callback," Gentry told those waiting. "The vice president was asked to return to Washington so at this time we’re going to cancel today’s event."

A Defense Department official confirmed that the aircraft never took off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The flight was cancelled by the requester, the official said.

A White House official confirmed there was no medical issue related to the president or the vice president.

White House aides were working as usual and there appeared to be no sense of alarm in the building. The White House called a lid until 1 p.m., a common occurrence that meant reporters were free to get lunch without missing an unexpected appearance by the president.

But the sudden cancellation created confusion among White House and political reporters.

"I am told no medical issue caused the cancellation of @VP New Hampshire event and return to WH," wrote NBC News' Kelly O'Donnell in a tweet. "Awaiting further clarification. Such changes are rare and therefore noteworthy."

Reporter on Fox says VP was "about to land in NH" and was "turned around." A guest on MSNBC says the plane was turned around in midair. But a senior WH official told the press pool that "The VP had not left DC and he's currently at the White House." https://t.co/vInf9QOK7E

At Salem NH opioid event w the @VP, spokesperson just came onto podium and announced event today is canceled because #AirForce2 was called back to Washington DC so Pence could attend to an emergency. #fitn@NBC10Boston@NECN#mapoli